Bell ringing mechanism



Oct. 15, 1957 L. M. MERRILL 2,810,124

BELL RINGING MECHANISM Filed April 20, 1955 INVENTOR. Zion/44 a M 157a,

BY haw ATTORNEYS.

tes Patent 2,810,124? Patented Oct. 15, 1957 use ' 2,810,123 BELL RINGING MECHANISM Leonard M. Merrill, Glendale, Ohio Application April 20, 1955, Serial No. 502,592

3 Claims. (Cl. 340-698) This invention relates to bell ringing mechanism and more specifically to hell ringing devices of the type which may be employed as desired to readily produce either a single stroke or toll of a bell or to produce repeated or continuous ringing of the bell.

Further the invention relates to bell ringing devices of the type wherein a bell is held at the top of its swing, and wherein after release of the bell, power is applied during a portion of its swing to the other side, the bell again being held at the top or conclusion of the single stroke until a new stroke is thereafter initiated.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved bell ringing device which is of compact design, has fewer parts, and is more suitably adapted for mounting in an open tower than other such devices of which I am aware.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bell ringing device wherein stresses and strains associated with driving the bell are confined to the immediate structure, the device comprising a reversible motor mounted close to and adapted to drive the bell through an arrangement of power transmission elements embracing a minimum number of parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and dependable arrangement for controlling operation of the motor alternately in opposite directions of rotation, the arrangement comprising a cam actuated motor control switch adapted to control energization of the motor as required during its brief periods of driving the bell.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement for actuating the motor control switch, the arrangement comprising a simple cam member mounted on one of the power transmission elements whereby the cam cannot become displaced from its relative position with respect to the bell, thus assuring properly timed actuation of the switch.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel braking arrangement whereby the brake is applied directly to the motor shaft the arrangement being such that shocks and strains associated with the braking operations are confined to the few parts involved.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel control for the brake whereby closure of a starting switch, comprising a holding circuit, actuates means to release the brake and initiate a stroke or single toll of the bell, the brake being held in released position during the swing of the hell but being reapplied precisely at the instant the bell comes to rest at the extreme upper limit of its swing, the arrangement serving to further reduce shocks and strain associated with the braking operation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of parts whereby starting failures are obviated and whereby, upon closure of the starting switch, the device starts and thereafter operates in a normal manner regardless of whether or not the bell is positioned at the top of its swing as preferred for best starting results.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent with an understanding of the ensuing description. Referring now to the drawings, wherein an exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and in which like numerals indicate like parts through the various figures:

Figure 1 is a schematic view diagrammatically illustrating various positions of a bell and certain parts of associated elements employed therewith in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a semi-diagrammatic view showing an exemplary device in accordance with my invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing an exemplary brake device.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating an alternative driving arrangement.

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram illustrating a preferred circuit which may be employed for use with single phase current and Figure 6 is a wiring diagram showing a circuit for use with multiple phase current.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, an exemplary embodiment of my invention comprises a suitable framework or base 10 mounting upright members 11 and 11a having bearings 12 and 12a providing journaled mountings for a bell shaft 13 comprising a drive wheel 14 and mounting the bell 15 in any suitable manner as by bolts 16.

Also mounted on the base 16 is a drive motor 17 having shaft 18 with a sprocket 19 fixed thereon. The sprocket 19 engages a drive chain 20 which as herein shown is alfixed to the bell wheel 14 by screws 21 or other suitable fastening means, the rim of the wheel being suitably adapted to receive the chain.

As herein shown the motor shaft 18 extends from either end of the motor casing and coupled to the end 18a of the shaft, I have indicated a centrifugal switch 22 for purposes which will later be more fully described. Also engaging the end 18a of the shaft an exemplary braking device is generally indicated at 23. It is to be understood that the centrifugal switch 22 and also the braking device 23 may be included within the frame or casing of the motor 17 without departing from the scope of my invention.

It is deemed that a suitable centrifugal switch, such as those Well known in the art, need not be herein described in full detail, however, for the purpose of a full understanding of my invention I prefer to include detailed description of an exemplary braking device which operates in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Referring now also to Figure 3, the shaft 18a also mounts a brake drum 24, fixed to the shaft by means of a key 25. Fixed to a suitable base 26 is a solenoid 27 comprising a winding or coil 28 and a plunger 29. As herein shown an upright member 26a fixed to the base 26 by screws 26b provides a pivoted mounting 260 for a brake lever 26d, the member 26a being perforated as at 26e to permit movement of the plunger 29 in its normal manner.

The brake lever 26d has afiixed thereto as by screws 26], a friction block or pad 26g while a compression spring 3%, bearing at its lower end against an adjustable abutment 31 and at its upper end against the lever 26d, urges the lever upward to force the pad 26g into engagement with the drum 24 thus serving as a brake means and arresting movement of the shaft 18a and the bell mounted thereon. The adjustable abutment 31 comprises a screw 32 threaded in the member 26 and hav ing a lock nut 33 while the lever 26d has a pin 34 to retain the spring 30 in operative relation. From the above it will now be understood that the brake is spring actuated and will be released only during those periods while the solenoid 27 is energized to actuate releasing means next to be described.

For the purpose of releasing the brake the plunger 3. 211 the soleno is pi tal y ifi ed as a 35 to a leve 36, to which is pivotally connected a link 37, the link 37 being pivotally connected as at 38 to a pair of toggle. i s. 3 a d 9 e n 2fi sinsp votally attir d.

t 1 t th P a e 26 d t el nls m ing p t t'a itattached as at 42 to the brake lever 26d.

From inspection ofFigure 3 it willnow be clear that upon energization of the solenoid 27its plunger. 22 will be drawn to the left, as'seen inthat fiigure of the drawings, and by virtue of the toggle arrangement described the lever 26d and friction pad 263 will be withdrawn from the brake drum 24, thus releasing the brake and holding the brake in releasedpositifon during energizetion of the solenoid, whereafter, upon dee'nergization of the solenoid, the spring 311. will function to immediately reapply the brake.

It is to be understood that the brake arrangement as shown and as just described is to be taken only as an exemplary embodiment and that various other arrangements comprising refinements thereof, but serving alike purpose, will readily occur tothose skilled in'the art without departing from the scope of, my invention.

'Also mounted onthe base 10, a switch 50 has an actuating lever 51, this switch serving as, will also be more fully described tov alternately energize and deenergize the motor 17 in response to actuation of the lever 51. For the purpose of actuating the lever 51, I prefer that the drive chain 20 be provided with a widened or shouldered portion 52 serving as a cam, andcomprising' an added section of chain whereby the. chain 20 comprises a section commonly referred to as double chain.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative driving arrangement wherein the motor shaft 18 is provided with a pinion gear 53 and the bell wheel is replaced by a large gear 54 having a shouldered portion 55 comprisinga cam adapted for actuation of the switch lever 51.

It is to be pointed out that by virtue of 'the arrange ment disclosed the cam or actuating means for switch 50, being carried on a driving member cannot become displaced from its relative positionwith respect to the bell, so that proper timed actuation of the switch 50 is assured.

It will now be clear that my invention comprises a minimum number of driving elements and it is to be understood that other driving arrangements therefore may readily embracespejedreduction gearing or the like without departing from the scopeof the appendedclaims.

T he single phase wiring diagram Referring now to the wiring diagram or Figure 5, a circuit adapted for use with 'singlephasecurr'entcomprises the motor 43 having mainwinding 43a 'and'starting winding 43b, a source of power being indicated'by the terminals 60and 61. Assuming now, forpurposes of explanation, that the spring applied brake comprising the friction block 26gand spring 30 is holdingthefbell in the position A (of Figure '1), the operation of "the device is as follows.

Operation of the single phase system Upon closure of a starting switch 62 the current from terminals 60 and 61 flows through the lines 63and '64 to energize the solenoid 27 and release the brake, whereupon the bell commences to descend by reason of gravity. The momentum of the bell as it swings downward drives the motor armature reason of the chain 20,thus initiating rotation of the motbr in the required direction and causing the centrifugal switch t? to be shifted to closed position. As this occurs current from th ef terminal 61 flows through lines 614 and 6].!) tb continue energization of th'solenoid, a first holding circuit has beingestablished to 'r'etain the brake in releasedpfosition regardless of reopening of the starting switch, th'e h'olding circuit prevailing until the centrifugal switch 4'8'dis later opened.

Also upon closure of the switch 62 current, flowing through the line 64 also flows through branch 64a to the switch which, in the position shown, diverts the current trough lines 65 and 66 to energize the relay coil 67 which actuates the three pole switch 68 and shifts the contacts thereof to their alternate position (not shown), the current from coil 67 returning to terminal 60 through line 69. Upon shifting of switch 68 its contactors 70 and 71 are op'enedto thus fully disconnect and to isolate the starting winding 43b of the motor from the circuit,this winding'not being employed when the bell is started from an upper position whereby momenturn of the bell initiates rotation of the motor in the required direction.

Upon shifting the switch 68 a contactor 72 is closed to establish a second holding circuit retaining the switch 68 in its shifted position, the path of current through the holding circuit including terminaldl, line 61a, switch 48, line61b, line 64, line 73; contactor 72, line 66, coil 67 and line,69 v connected toterminal 60. This holding circuit also prevails until the centrifugal switch 48 is later opened.

With the circuitsas above established and as the bell continues to swing downward the. speed 'of the motor is rapidly accelerated to a'rate whereupon with energization of its'rnain winding themotor, as is characteristic of singlejphase motors, will continue to run in the same direction and serve to drive the belL' The energization of the mainwinding 43a willoccur as the cam or shouldered portion '52 of the chain 20 engages the lever 51 of switch 5;0 .,to shift its contactor from the position of Figure 5 tea position where the current from line 64a flows through the line 75, to relay coil 76 which shifts the double pole switch 77 to energize the main winding 43a of t motor- As the cam, or shouldered portion 52 of the chain passes beyond the lever 51 of the switch 50.the contactor thereof will return to the position of Figure 5 to break the circuit to relay coil 76. permitting switch 77 to return to the position of Figure 5 and deenergize the main winding 43a'of the motor, whereafterthe bell continues, due to momentum of the moving parts to swing toward the position C of Figure l.

During'the, final, unpowered, portion of its swing the movement of the bell is gradually retarded in a natural manner by action of gravity and as the bell finally comes to its point of instantrest in the position C, the centrifugal switch 48, is opened to thus break the holding circuit which retained the brake in released position. Thereupon the spring 30 instantly reapplies the braketo retain the .bell in that position until a new cycle of operations is initiated by reclosure of the starting'switch 62. In its swing from position C to position A, the operations as just described are repeated.

It willnow be clear thatthe brake is applied while the bell is at rest. whereby shocks, vibrations and wear of the parts arereduced to a minimum.

If, for any reason, thebell is re'stingat the bottom of its swing (as at B'in Figure l), the device will start and function in a normal manner. Thus, upon closure of the switch 62 'the'solenoid 27 will be energiie'dto release the brake. With the parts in that position the switch 50 will have already been shifted, by reason ofthe widened portion of the ,chainactingfon the lever 51, to divert current.

through line 75 to the relay coil 76 whereby the switch 77 is shifted to closed position and energizes both'the main winding 43h offlthe motor and its starting winding 43b to initiate rotation of the motor and drive the bell upward. Asmovemeht of the] bell and the motor is thus initiated the centrifugal switch 48 will again be closed to establish the holding circuit previously described to retain the brake in released position regardless of reopening of the switch 62. As the bell is driven upwardly and as the widened portion of the chain passes the lever 51 the switch 50 will be shifted back to the position shown by the spring 50a. This breaks the circuit to the relay coil 76 and allows the spring 77a to shift switch 77 to open position thus deenergizing the motor windings. Due to momentum of the moving parts the bell continues to swing upward until it reaches its point of instant rest. As this occurs the centrifugal switch again opens to break the holding circuit to the brake solenoid 29 and the spring 30 instantly reapplies the brake. Thereafter the sequence of operations is as before described. Upon momentary closure of the switch 62 a single stroke of the bell is produced. Or, the ringing action will be repeated as long as the switch 62 is held in closed position.

. It is to be pointed out that in cases where a single stroke is not desired the brake mechanism and the centrifugal switch may be omitted, the bell starting from and stopping in the low position of the swing and continuing to operate as above just described while the starting switch is held closed.

The multiple phase wiring diagram A wiring diagram for use with 3 phase current is shown in Figure 6 wherein a source of current 80 is directed to the terminals of the motor 81 through either of the relays or three pole switches 82 or 83, the switch 82 serving to energize the motor to rotate in a normal direction, and switch 83 serving to energize the motor to rotate in a reverse direction. Low voltage current from the source 84 may be employed for a control circuit to actuate the relay switches 82, 83 and the solenoid 27. A switch actuating lever 85 pivotally mounted at 86 has a cam portion 85a adapted to actuate switches as will next be described. The lever also comprises an arm 87 adapted to coact with the widened portion 52 of the chain (not shown in this figure). A spring 88 is employed to resiliently urge the lever to its neutral position shown. The operation of this circuit is now described as follows:

Operation of the multiple phase system Upon closure of the starting switch 90 the current from source 84 flows through lines 91 and 92 to energize the solenoid 27 and thereby release the brake 93. Assuming that the bell descends in the direction whereby the chain shifts lever 85 in the direction marked N, a switch 94 is first actuated against tension of spring 94b to contact the terminal 95, whereupon an uncompleted circuit comprising lines 96 and 91 and coil 82a is established. Upon further movement of the lever 85 in the direct-ion N, a switch 97 normally held in open position by spring 97a is secondly actuated to contact the terminal 98 whereupon the coil 82a is energized to close switch 82 and energize the motor to operate in its normal direction of rotation, the current for energizing coil 82a flowing through lines 91, coil 82a line 96, contact 95, switch 94 line 94a, switch 97, contact 98, line 98a line 92 centrifugal switch 48 and line 99 to source 84, it being understood as previously described, that upon movement of the bell the centrifugal switch is closed to establish a holding circuit whereby regardless of reopening of the starting switch the operation continues.

As the widened portion of the chain passes beyond the lever 87, the lever 85 together with switches 94 and 97 return to the position shown.

To prevent overtravel or undue movement of the switch element 85 beyond its normal neutral position, the element may be provided with an upstanding pin 85b adapted to engage the free end of a flat spring 850, which is fixedly mounted at its other end as at d. Thus the circuit to relay coil 82a is broken, whereupon switch 82 also returns to the position shown, to deenergize the motor. As before, the bell continues to swing upward until its momentum is consumed, whereupon the centrifugal switch is opened to break the holding circuit to the solenoid 27, whereupon the spring applies the brake to arrest movement of the bell until a new strike is initiated.

On the reverse swing of the bell the lever 85 is moved, in the direction R; as this occurs the switch 94 remains in contact with the terminal 100 forming an uncompleted circuitincluding lines 101 and 91 to the relay coil 83a. Upon further movement of the lever the switch 97 again contacts terminal 98 to complete the circuit and energize coil 83a, which actuates the switch 83 to energize the motor to operate in reverse direction, the remaining sequence of operations is as previously described.

It is to be mentioned that by virtue of the arrangements and advantages above disclosed, the device of my invention is simpler, has fewer parts, is less bulky, more readily protected from weather, and more suitable for mounting in an open tower than other of such devices of which I am aware.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention as herewith shown and described, is to be taken as an exemplary embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bell ringing device, a frame, a bell shaft journaled in said frame, a bell mounted on said bell shaft, a circular driven element also mounted on said bell shaft and being actuatable therewith to impart swinging movements to said bell, a reversible electric motor, an electric circuit including said motor, a motor control switch also included in said electric circuit, a drive sprocket powered by said motor, a drive chain engaging said drive sprocket and extending around the periphery of said circular driven element, a switch actuating means carried on said drive chain and adapted to coact with said motor control switch, said motor control switch having an actuating element positioned within the path of movement of said switch actuating means, whereby said drive motor is energized through an intermediate portion of each swinging movement.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch actuating means comprises a widened section of said drive chain.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 including fastening means serving to alfix said drive chain to said circular driven element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,296,361 Bryant Mar. 4, 1919 1,938,712 Merrill Dec. 12, 1933 1,938,713 Merrill Dec. 12, 1933 2,512,912 Blackburn June 27, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 574,727 Germany Apr. 20, 1933 176,388 Britain Jan. 25, 1923 

